Rod 2.0:Beta

Really? 50 Cent "Beards" with Gay Icon Bette Midler

And by "beard" of course we're referring to 50 Cent's butch, new facial hair. The campy gangsta rap superstar shows off his new beard ... and the fabulous Better Midler at last night's benefit for the Divine Miss M's New York Restoration Project.

The guest list included a who's who of gay fabulousity—such Andre Leon Talley and Tim Gunn, who probably approved of 50 Cent's Gucci shirt and belt. Oh and Dolly Parton, too. I'm loving this new look and crowd for Fiddy.

 

50 Cent and Bette collaborated on the development of a public garden in his childhood neighborhood in Jamaica, Queens. Bette Midler recently talked about going in the studio with Fiddy for another collaboration: To sing jazz duets. "It’ll be the little Jewish lady and the great big rapper. He’s such a doll. I love him. He’s gorgeous. I was hoping we’d sing songs from the Depression."

WHEN YOU JUMP, close-ups of 50 Cent's new beard, the menu and the invitation.

Rick Ross "Apologizes" to Gays: "I'm Willing to Record with an Openly Gay Artist Such as 50 Cent"

The Rick Ross-50 Cent beef takes an interesting turn. After taking some heat for calling 50 Cent a closet homosexual and a "fag"—among other colorful names—Miami-based Ross offers a left-handed apology in a video "apology" to the gay community and slyly maintains his willingness to record with "openly gay artist ... such as 50 Cent."

Ross says, "I heard I offended the homosexual community recently with terms I've been using the last few weeks—terms like fags, punks, homos, gays—we all know. What I want to say is I apologize. I sincerely apologize to the gay community, to the people I offended with the words like fags, gays, punks. You know, words like that. I apologize. And just to let the gay community know how sincere I am with my apologies ... I'm offering and willing to do a record with a openly gay artist such as Curly, Curtis Jackson, 50 Cent. We all know he's gay. I'm willing to do a song. Even Elton John. Both two great gay artists... So I apologize to the gay community. So now that that's out the way ... Now all the gays, we good. Peace."

The reference to "Curly" is to Fifty's Jherri Curl-wearing "Pimpin' Curly" video which mocked Rick Ross. In recent years, Fifty Cent, who has gaybashed during much of his career, has been relentlessly gay-baited by rival rappers and was even portrayed on a mix tape with a lipstick-smeared face and in a tender embrace with fellow G Unit members.

Rick Ross' video "apology" after the jump.

50 Cent to "Soften" Image with "Butch" Line of Male Cosmetics?

Another week and yet another ringing endorsement of heterosexuality from the increasingly campy and gay-vague rapper  50 Cent. Reportedly the buff gangster rap superstar wants to "soften" his "macho reputation" and plans a "butch" male cosmetics line. Because nothing says "butch" louder than extolling the virtues of moisturizing. Britain's Daily Mirror reports:

It seems the hip-hop king is to bring out his own range of beauty products.

We're told he's putting the finishing touches on a line that will include a moisturiser, night cream and body-building supplements.

An insider said: "Fifty prides himself on having a ripped body ... he's on a health kick and barely touches alcohol.

"So his range will be for the guy who likes to be pampered - but the supplements will make it more butch."

There is a special irony that  50 Cent, who recently mocked Kanye West for being "gay", wants urban men to moisturize and use a "night cream."  "We think Fiddy has tipped the edge of the girlie scales with his latest venture," notes the Daily Mirror.

This isn't 50 Cent's first time getting in touch with his feminine side. The buff rapper—whose prison nickname was "The Slut"—admits his workout routine is "girly", says he gets his nails buffed, and, infamously posed for the cover of GQ with a waxed brow and erect nipples. Can't wait to see his ads for the new male grooming line.

Some Background ....
50 Cent's "Girly" Workout Routine [R20]
Confirmed: 50 Cent Enjoys Sex Toys [R20]
50 Cent "Inspects" the "Boys" in Campy Video [R20]
Fat Joe Mocks 50 Cent with "Gay Unit" Mixtape [R20]
50 Gave Good Face [R20]
No Homo [R20]
Get (Homo) or Die Tryin' [R20]
What Up S.L.U.T. [R20]
Bitch Better Have My Money And Some Prada [R20]
Gay or Rapper? [R20]

50 Cent's "Girly" Workout Routine

Another week and yet another ringing endorsement of heterosexuality from increasingly campy and gay-vague rapper  50 Cent. The buff gangster rap superstar admits his calisthenics workout routine is somewhat "girly" and he keeps in shape by "just kicking my leg."

The muscular rapper says his toned physique is the result of "girly" weight-free routines rather than pumping iron.

He said: "It's intense, and there are no weights involved. And some of it's like girly stuff, like just kicking your leg, but it's muscles you don't really ever work at. Men don't usually go to the gym and say, 'I'm going to develop my a*s. This'll be the J.Lo workout.' "

Actually there are quite a few men who go to the gym and develop their quads and glutes. 50 Cent, whose prison nickname was "the slut", surely knows a thing or two about that.

In related news: 50 Cent also announces a collaboration with Robbie Williams, the pansexual British popstar and former Take That frontman. "We talked about recording in Los Angeles and then the next time I spoke to him he was on his way to rehab. Hopefully we will have a chance to work with each other."

50 Cent's Womanly Workout [List]

Some Background ....
Confirmed: 50 Cent Enjoys Sex Toys [R20]
50 Cent "Inspects" the "Boys" in Campy Video [R20]
Fat Joe Mocks 50 Cent with "Gay Unit" Mixtape [R20]
50 Gave Good Face [R20]
No Homo [R20]
Get (Homo) or Die Tryin' [R20]
What Up S.L.U.T. [R20]
Bitch Better Have My Money And Some Prada [R20]
Gay or Rapper? [R20]

Confirmed! 50 Cent Enjoys Sex Toys

Another week and yet another ringing endorsement of heterosexuality from the campy and "suspect" rap superstar 50 Cent. Above and below, Fiddy is seen during a recent radio promotional interview where he discussed women's sex toys and the anatomical correctness of certain dildos.

Nothing screams "straight" louder than expertly cradling a dildo with two hands ... while smiling like it's Christmas morning.

After the jump, possibly nsfw, the gangsta rapper chooses his favorite 12"+ remix. Huge or gargantuan?

News: Demarco Majors, Marriage, Methodists, HIV, Kanye and Pharrell

· It's official. This fall, Californians will vote on the right of gay and lesbian couples to marry after "the state supreme court denied a legal challenge by gay and civil rights groups to remove a proposed amendment to ban marriage for gay and lesbian couples, Proposition 8, from the November ballot." The court’s vote was unanimous.

· Los Angeles Times: "Scores of United Methodist pastors in California are putting their careers on the line in an open revolt against religious edicts that forbid them to conduct weddings for gay and lesbian couples. ... Pastors have been emboldened by United Methodist assemblies in California that declared their support last month for the state Supreme Court's recent ruling overturning a ban on same-sex marriage."

· Everything you always wanted to know about basketball player Demarco Majors.

· 50 Cent to hook up with Val Kilmer.

· Politico profiles Lane Hudson, the political strategist and blogger who exposed former congressman and GOPerv Mark Foley.

· ABC News features a report on LGBT youth and discrimination in middle schools. The Washington Post published a similar story Monday, on Saro Harvey, a 15-year-old black gay teen, which you can also watch. To add some context to the precarious position of gay youth, Pride Agenda reports "a North Carolina anti-bullying bill is stalled due to its inclusion of LGBT students."

· HIV/AIDS research is slowing. Swiss pharma giant Roche announces it will suspend its "HIV research because none of its pending medicines represents a significant improvement over existing drugs" and reassign its HIV research scientists to other projects. One recent advancement in HIV research is the announcement by pathologists at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston who believe they have found the Achilles Heel, the weakness that would keep the HIV virus from infecting new cells.

· Want a "RIM job"? Blackberry manufacturer Research in Motion launches new career microsite. Pun intended. (via Queerclick)

· IBM Q2 profits jump 22%.

· The New England Blade: "Despite growing support for same-sex marriage in the United States as measured by several recent polls, black Americans remain steadfastly opposed to gay unions. According to research conducted by the National Black Justice Coalition and several other organizations, as many as two-thirds of black Americans are against gay marriage. Although the numbers vary by poll, research shows most blacks oppose both gay marriage and civil unions."

· Talk Left reports Rod 2.0 faves Pharrell Williams and Kanye West are among the hip-hop acts that will perform in Denver during the Democratic National Convention. Meanwhile, Pharrell and Kanye pushback against rumors on the internets that they employ ghost bloggers to publish their highly popular and frequently updated blogs. To squash the drama, Kanye publishes photos of himself at his computer and on his blog with some choice words (in all caps) for the haterz.

· New York Gov. David Paterson and the NAACP condemn the New Yorker's satirical cover depicting Barack and Michelle Obama.

· Intellectual Conservative, a right-wing blog that boasts "Extremism You Can Believe In," mocks Obama’s LGBT-inclusive policies and public mentions of gays and lesbians.

· Environmental Protection Agency says the value of an American life has decreased. Think Progress reports, "The EPA lowered its 'value of a statistical life' measure to $6.9 million in today’s dollars, which is 'a drop of nearly $1 million from just five years ago.' ... Critics say that the Bush administration is 'changing the value to avoid tougher [environmental] rules.' 'It’s hard to imagine that it has other than a political motivation,' said former senior EPA official Dan Esty."

50 Cent: "Never" Tempted to "Have Sex" with "Naked" Female Fans

Another week, another ringing endorsement of heterosexuality from campy rap superstar 50 Cent. After channeling the Village People in his latest music video, Fiddy reveals that while on the road, he is overwhelmed with offers of sex (from women!) but is "never" tempted.

Showbizspy reports, "The In Da Club hitmaker—real name Curtis Jackson—is so popular with female fans, he often finds them hiding out in his hotel room without any clothes on. But Jackson claims he has never been tempted, comparing their behavior to that of the prostitutes selling sex in the Netherlands.

"He tells America's Vibe magazine, "I've been in hotel rooms, and girls were already there in the closet - naked. Hell, no! Are you kidding me? That's like Amsterdam."

Not really sure why "Amsterdam" immediately came to Fiddy's mind, maybe Lloyd Banks could answer that one, but, umm, aren't most naked groupies offering sex to rappers for, umm, free? Oh, and Fiddy has already said several times that he just waiting for the right "girl."

50 Cent's Naked Fans [Showbizspy]
50 Cent Compares Naked Fans To Prostitutes [EW]

Some Background ....
50 Cent "Inspects" the "Boys" in Campy New Music Video [R20]
Rapper Fat Joe Mocks 50 Cent and G Unit with "Gay Unit" Mixtape [R20]
50 Gave Good Face [R20]
No Homo [R20]
Get (Homo) or Die Tryin' [R20]
What Up S.L.U.T. [R20]
Bitch Better Have My Money And Some Prada [R20]
Gay or Rapper? [R20]

50 Cent "Inspects" the "Boys" in Campy New Music Video

Outgoing editor Tyler Gray at RADAR gives a nice mention to Rod 2.0 while dishing 50 Cent's campy new music video. Thank gawd we all know that Fiddy is very! straight! because in addition the arson fire and baby mama drama making headlines today, "it's just silly to speculate that über hetero 50 Cent could be gay. Not that at least one nagging blogger hasn't tried repeatedly and hilariously to cull together evidence from his movie and book."

In the new music video for "Rider Part 2", the buffed and costumed Fiddy channels his inner Village People to strut his stuff in a Marine dress uniform in a barracks of camouflage-wearing soldiers. Sounds kinda like a plot for a gay porn flick, no? "Check out that ... um, tilted Captain and Tennille-style sailor's cap he's wearing while inspecting some prime soldier specimens, and, so, yeah, he's all tenderoni now, too, apparently, using a vocoder in a chorus that repeats the word "boy" five times. Did he just growl? ..." Yes indeed, 50 Cent growls twice while inspecting the "boys". What does it mean? Don't ask, don't tell. Watch the video here.

In December, RADAR named Rod 2.0 to its year-in-review issue along with Concrete Loop, Nah Right and Hot Ghetto Mess as part of its "Bloggeratti." Actress/comedian Kathy Griffin, gender bender Candis Cayne and director Craig Brewer were among the other honorees.

UPDATE: Rod 2.0 reader Seahwak on the obvious connection to gay icons. "Rather than Village People, my first impression was that he was channeling Marlene Dietrich, strutting around a bunch of soldiers who desire him."

Thanks BRIAN, TYLER, BERNIE and TAYLOR

50 Cent's Homage to Heterosexuality [Radar]
Home at center of 50 Cent lawsuit destroyed by fire [AP]

Some Background ....
Rapper Fat Joe Mocks 50 Cent and G Unit with "Gay Unit" Mixtape [R20]
50 Gave Good Face [R20]
No Homo [R20]
Get (Homo) or Die Tryin' [R20]
What Up S.L.U.T. [R20]
Bitch Better Have My Money And Some Prada [R20]
Gay or Rapper? [R20]

Rapper Fat Joe Mocks 50 Cent and G Unit with "Gay Unit" Mixtape

New York City's legendary "mix tape wars" take an ironic and amusing twist as Bronx-based rapper Fat Joe mocks 50 Cent and G Unit with his latest mix tape, Gay Unit Volume 1.

The cover art parodies the gaybaiting that has sometimes accompanied 50 Cent and his boyz with Photoshopped images of Fiddy, Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo locked in a tender embrace (wouldn't be the first time) and lipstick smeared across their faces. For extra points, 50 Cent is seen in that fur coat and pose from that gayish GQ cover shoot.

It's ironic that 50 Cent, who spent many years dropping homophobic lyrics, has now become a victim to relentless gaybaiting.

Some Background ....
50 Gave Good Face [R20]
No Homo [R20]
Get (Homo) or Die Tryin' [R20]
What Up S.L.U.T. [R20]
Bitch Better Have My Money .. And Some Prada Pumps [R20]
Gay or Rapper? [R20]

News: Maryland Gay Marriage, Stanley Bennett Clay, Bob Allen

· Maryland's highest court upholds the state's ban against same-sex marriage. "The Court of Appeals ruled that the state's 1973 ban on gay marriage does not discriminate on the basis of gender and does not deny any fundamental rights guaranteed by the state constitution. The court also found that the state has a legitimate interest in promoting opposite-sex marriage." Bills allowing gay marriage and civil unions will soon be introduced in the legislature. Read the ruling here

· California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will once again veto legislation that would allow same-sex couples to marry.

· Last week. black gay HIV/AIDS activist Phil Wilson called for presidential candidates to address the AIDS pandemic. This week, more than 100 HIV/AIDS organizations issue a "Call to Action" statement "to all presidential candidates asking them to develop results-oriented, national HIV/AIDS strategies."

· Jury selection begins tomorrow in the case of Florida Republican State Rep. Bob Allen, who was arrested after offering $20 to perform oral sex on an undercover police officer. Attorneys for the state legislator—who argued the black undercover officer "intimidated" him—are requesting a continuance.

· ENDA moves forward and Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) says he expects the House to pass the bill.

· Brotherlove has an insightful two-part interview with Stanley Bennett Clay, the prolific writer and author of Looker and applauds "the fact that it was written by an out, black gay man who is older than the majority of writers in his genre. While a lot of focus in black gay writing is on the down low, coming out and how to find a man, Clay uses those issues as backdrops with a mature aesthetic." Bennett Clay's In Search of Pretty Young Black Men review/interview on Rod 2.0 here.